"No."
"I’m very sorry, then," the apprentice said, shaking his head, his tone still respectful.
"The tickets for the next sailing of the Skybound were sold out six months ago. You can register for the one after that, in another six months, but..."
He paused. "The waiting list is long. You’ll be waiting at least two or three years."
Ian said nothing.
He just slowly raised his head.
HUMMM!
A subtle yet substantial Crystalization Force Field quietly spread out from him.
The Force Field wasn’t strong, only covering a ten-meter radius.
But the pressure, born from the transformed Soul Essence of a Level Two Wizard, seemed to make the very air congeal.
The apprentice’s face instantly turned ashen.
He took an involuntary half-step back, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
The other Wizards in the hall also sensed the disturbance and turned to look.
Their eyes held surprise, curiosity, and a hint of fear.
A Level Two Crystalized Wizard was a top-tier power on the East Coast.
They commanded respect wherever they went.
"I wish to see the Steward here." Ian retracted his Force Field, his voice still calm.
"Ye-yes!"
The apprentice, looking as if he’d been granted a pardon, turned and hurried to the back room.
「One minute later.」
A middle-aged Warlock in a silver-blue Long Robe emerged from the back room.
He was of average build with a refined face and profound eyes, emanating an equally solid Crystalization Force Field.
’A Level Two Wizard.’
"I am Derek, the Steward for the Giant Sail Alliance in Vilte Port."
He walked up to Ian and bowed slightly, his posture respectful but not servile.
"And how may I address you?"
"Gray Moon," Ian replied, offering a fabricated name.
"Lord Gray Moon," Derek said, gesturing. "Please, follow me. We can talk inside."
He turned and walked toward the back room, with Ian following behind.
They passed through a Sound Insulation Barrier and entered a quiet reception room.
The room was not large, but it was elegantly furnished.
The bookshelves against the wall were filled with nautical charts and trade logs, and the faint scent of ink hung in the air.
"Please, have a seat." Derek sat by the tea table and poured the tea himself.
The tea was a pale gold color, exuding a gentle, spiritually nourishing aroma.
"Golden Jade Tea, from the Jade Forest on the Central Continent. It has a soothing effect on one’s Spiritual Power."
Ian accepted the teacup and took a small sip.
The tea was warm. Upon entering his throat, it transformed into a cool stream of Energy, slowly nourishing his Sea of Spirit.
’It really is good stuff.’
"Lord Gray Moon, you wish to buy a ticket for the Skybound?" Derek got straight to the point.
"I do."
"To be frank," Derek said, setting down his cup with a sigh.
"The tickets truly are sold out."
"The Skybound is the Giant Sail Alliance’s latest generation of trans-oceanic airship. It employs the Central Continent’s newest spatial stabilization technology and is equipped with a brand-new Defense Rune Array."
"Its cruising speed is thirty percent faster than the old models, and it’s much safer as well."
"That’s why every time tickets go on sale, they’re snatched up in advance by the various factions."
He paused and looked at Ian.
"But... it’s not entirely hopeless."
Ian raised an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"
"A surcharge," Derek said, raising a single finger.
"We reserve five ’emergency cabins’ specifically for unforeseen circumstances."
"However, the price for these cabins... is three times the normal fare."
"What is the normal fare?"
"A Middle Level private cabin costs three hundred thirty High Level Magic Stones."
Ian’s expression twitched slightly.
’Three hundred and thirty High Level Magic Stones.’
’That’s a considerable sum, even for a Level One Wizard.’
’The entire net worth of many Level One Wizards is only around one thousand High Level Magic Stones.’
"Three times that price is one thousand High Level Magic Stones," Derek added, "and there’s one more condition."
"Let’s hear it."
"During the voyage, should we encounter a crisis... and I stress, *should*," Derek emphasized, "the ship will request the assistance of all Level Two Wizard passengers."
"You will be compensated accordingly, of course."
"But if you refuse... your ticket will be voided, and you will be banned from our services for life."
Ian looked down, deep in thought, weighing the pros and cons.
’One thousand High Level Magic Stones.’
’I can afford that.’
’The spoils I looted from the two Level Two Wizards—one from the Deep Red Royal Court and the other from the Withered Council—included nearly two thousand High Level Magic Stones.’
’And that’s not even mentioning all the materials and Witchcraft Tools.’
’But what I need to consider is...’
"What kind of crisis?" he asked.
"Hard to say." Derek shook his head. "The Endless Sea is vast."
"Our route is a relatively safe one, but we occasionally encounter spatial turbulence, deep-sea leviathans, or even... pirates."
"Pirates?"
"Yes." Derek’s expression grew serious.
"There are several infamous pirate crews on the Endless Sea that specialize in plundering trans-oceanic airships."
"Their leaders are... at the very least, at the Level Two Peak. Some might even be Level Three Great Witches."
Ian nodded slowly. This was more or less what he had expected.
’The Endless Sea is fraught with peril.’
"I accept," he finally said.
A flicker of delight flashed in Derek’s eyes.
"A wise choice."
He stood up and retrieved a palm-sized, silver-blue Token from a desk drawer.
The Token’s surface was engraved with complex Runes, and a tiny spatial Anchor Crystal Stone was embedded in its center.
"This is the passenger Token for a Middle Level cabin on the Skybound."
"Boarding is in half a month, at six in the morning, from Pier Three at the port."
"The Token serves as both your proof of identity and the key to your cabin."
Ian took the Token.
It was cool to the touch, and he could feel stable spatial fluctuations from within it.
"Additionally," Derek added, "private duels are forbidden on board. The ship is under the protection of two Level Three Great Witches from the Giant Sail Alliance."
"During the voyage, set meals will be provided daily, but you can also order from a paid menu."
"Every ten days, a small trade fair will be held on board where passengers can trade items freely."
"The voyage will take approximately three months, depending on the weather and route conditions."